Our Scholarship Programs

During this academic year, we offered 228 scholarships for children in Pre-K to 6th grade. These students attended 56 schools in the Artibonite Valley, usually closest to their homes (see the map on back page). We select only one child per family to help as many families as possible. Students are selected at the pre-K to first grade level based on their family’s financial need and situation. We keep in mind a gender balance and select from townships within the 30-mile region where we work in the Artibonite Valley. Students who achieve academic success will advance to the next grade. This year, 21 will advance to the Secondary Program. This success is in part due to our tutoring program that gives assistance to 5th and 6th graders in French and mathematics.

220 scholarships were granted this year to students in grades 7 to Philo (a 13th college preparatory year mandatory for post-secondary study). These students attend 33 schools in the Artibonite Valley region. Most of these students advanced from our primary program, but each year we select about 10 new students based on their academic achievement and financial need. Throughout the year, we assist struggling students with tutoring opportunities in math, sciences, and languages at our Education Center in Deschapelles and at the Dumarsais Estime School in Verrettes (see our tutoring report). 25 students graduated this year and will go on to post-secondary study either in the university program or the technical/professional school program. Their post-secondary study depends on the results of the Philo exam administered by the Ministry of Education in Haiti. A student’s preference is taken into consideration as well. Some graduates will have to wait a year to receive a post-secondary scholarship due to budget constraints. This past year 10 students were placed on a waiting list for the Technical and Professional Program. They will enter the program this fall.

This academic year we had 54 students in our technical and professional school program. They attended 24 schools in Gonaive, St. Marc, Limonade, and Port-au- Prince. These students are graduates from our secondary program. In addition to providing full tuition, we provide a stipend for travel if they commute daily, and we offer a living expense stipend if they attend a school where daily commutes are impossible. Most of the programs of study are 2 to 4 years in duration. Students study nursing, laboratory sciences, accounting, electromechanics, construction, business administration, and physical therapy. We had 6 graduates this year.

Our university students are selected from our secondary school graduates based
on their Philo scores, academic record, and their desire and aptitude for university study. This year, we had 48 in our program and 10 in their internship year. They attended 17 different universities in Port-au-Prince, Gonaive, or Limonade. Most universities require 5 years of academic study followed by an internship year.10 finished their degrees in studies ranging from agronomy (2), dentistry (1), computer science (2), medicine (2), accounting (2) and nursing (1). Due to security challenges in Port-au-Prince, we encourage our students to attend schools outside the Port-au-Prince area, and 9 have chosen to do so. Each university specializes in different fields of study and most require an entrance exam. Students must choose their field of study when they enter the program. Our staff helps them with this important decision. All students receive a living stipend and a laptop. We are grateful for a grant from the Nan H. Altmayer Charitable Trust to purchase laptops for our freshman class.

At the heart of The Crosby Fund’s mission lies the deep conviction that a brighter future for Haiti depends upon educating its youth and preparing them for professional careers. To that end, and to “close the loop” on our ongoing mission, The Crosby Fund has initiated the Career Development Program, a new CFHE initiative that proactively helps put our college and technical school graduates on the path to sustaining careers.